a.AnnualCompetitionis opentoallVPPA Members, both Virginia Residents and Non Residents, who pay the entry fees by the published deadlines; however, onlyVPPAmemberswho’sdues are current are eligible for credits, awards and trophies.

c. TheTop 10VPPAPhotographeroftheYearAwardswillbegiventothetop10 entrantsbasedontheirtop six (6) eligible imagescoresregardlessofthetotalnumberofentries.There is a formula for determining award winners in the event of a tie which is described in this document.

a. These numbers arecalculatedbased onthecumulative scores of theentrant’stopsix (6) eligible entries.The 10entrants with thehighest scores will receive one of these awards.

Tie Breaker:Determined by the single highest scoring elibible entry.In the event of another tie, the second highest scoring eligible entry will be determined to break the tie.As ties continue the winner will be determined by the next highest scoring eligible entry at each level until a winner is determined.

n. Artist:A conceptual image altered or manipulated from its original condition. Creations can be a subtle application using post processing techniques, or a dramatic combination of details to suggest a larger story.The artist is responsible for the idea behind the image and the work done to create the finished art piece.Designedtojudgethetechniqueoftheartist.Anentry in thiscategorymustincludeacompilationofparts,stepsorstages used tomake uptheimage onthefrontside, toporbottomoftheimage file.Themaker willbejudgedonhowwell he/she handledthemediumused in theimage. Thiscategorywillincludeenhancements/ restoration,compositedimages andsingleimage files.

i. Event:This sub-category is a collection of images highlighting one or more individuals associated with a social event, and held at a destination other than a studio. Allphotographsmustbefromthesamesocialeventlike awedding,bar/batmitzvah, etc.Theremay bemorethan onemaker foranEventAlbum;suchan albumwillcountasoneentry foreachmaker andshouldbesoindicatedontheentryform.

ii. Non-Event:This sub-category contains a group or selection of images used to express people, places, or things, not specifically in a social setting.Thealbumshouldhavephotographsfromthesameportraitsitting,commercialassignment, orbea“Dayin theLife”,“BabytoAdult”, or High School Seniortypealbum.Itcouldalsobeacompilationofimages fromonetriporoneassignment.